Pastor’s Blog II.I
February 8, 2010 by Russ
Filed under Pastor's Blog
I think I have stumbled onto or am stumbling onto a theme for 2010. In 1988 the sports company, Nike, established their catchy motto: “Just Do It” which they actually used for 10 years. It was cute, memorable and it sold mechandise like nothing they had ever used before. Just do it was the slogan of the decade. I am looking at something similar in attitude for Cornerstone.
We started the year in Matthew 25 where we are told that the difference between the sheep and goats will be what they did or did not do for “the least of these.” I haven’t stop thinking about that phrase since then. Whatever you did for the least of these you did for me says Jesus. Whatever you did not do for the least of these you did not do for me. Doing seems pretty important to our God. Some 2,000 plus years later I am not sure it is as important to the evangelical church.
In Acts 16 when the jailor asks Paul and Silas what must he do to be saved they reply, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” I mean Paul said it under the direct influence of the Holy Spirit so how can you go wrong when you repeat that little gem? Just believe in Jesus. I believe many people have agreed with that to a point and have stated they believe in Jesus. However, in scripture belief also affects action. In fact I would suggest to you that if your belief does not affect how you live (action) perhaps you don’t believe what you say you believe. This brings us back to our passage in Matthew 25. If I believe in Jesus then I will live as Jesus calls me to live. Jesus asks this question in Luke 6:46, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I say?”
I am looking for suggestions for a theme or lotto or slogan that relates to these verses. Something akin to Nike’s “Just do it” because that speaks to what we should be doing as a church body. We should be doing it, not just talking but doing. Not announcing what it is we believe but living what we believe. James 1 is a good place to visit as well. “Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” I think James was a little bent out of shape about this issue. He also penned this idea: “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
This is crucial to our spiritual development. We must be a church that does it…whatever it is that God calls us to do. I am not even slightly interested in having booming Sunday attendances if there is no corresponding action with that attendance. Action has to be at the root of what we are about as a church family. It is in the action that we really live out what we believe. I believe God is calling us to be this church of action. I get totally stoked when I imagine the possibilities of impacting/changing our world as our church gets motivated to act.
So, bring them on. Let me hear your suggestions for our slogan/theme/motto for the coming year. I need your help!
I think you should say something like…” If your really for GOD, act like it”. or [if you think that's a little harsh] “Don’t tell me that you love GOD , I’ll tell you!…[ oh well I guess that's harsher] i’ll quit now.
If you research the ancient manuscripts and translate from the original greek language into our modern day English I believe what James was trying to say is ‘Get Real!’Short, sweet and to the point.
great idea. Moms against drunk drivers..MADD
Simply the mottto… don’t drink and drive is everywhere.
I have used Nike’s slogan many times to motivate myself.
So, words to speak to doing what I know is the right thing to do.
I like that.
DC Talk had a song stating love is a verb. That helped me too.
My brain and heart are getting into gear to think on this.
Thanks Russ.
I’ve been involved in a Bible Study called “The Bait of Satan” by John Bevere. This past week I was really convicted by something he said. In his video he said that in the Bible, to believe is to obey. Believe = Obedience. He felt that in today’s church, the word believe is very watered down. It’s not enough to just simply believe that Jesus is God’s Son but are we obedient to His teachings as well. To Believe = To Obey.
When I first read your blog Russ, that is the first thing that came to my mind….
Believe = Obedience
” If you love him you will show it and i’ll know it.
Don’t give up on me guys. We still haven’t reached the perfect one. Another few that come in to the church office are:Look up, look in, reach out
or receive, believe, pass it on, or
reborn to take action. I like the last one! Give me more!
if you love Him, you will show it, and I’ll know it.
Just a quick thought on your requests for theme/slogan… in keeping with the Nike slogan of “Just Do It” I was thinking “Just Get it Done” made speak to doing what is required of us as Christians. Just a thought.
Bill
In response to your request for suggestions on a slogan/theme, I was thinking that if Nike can use “Just Do It” we could use “Just Get it Done”. To me this would speak to our responsibility to share the Gospel, meet people’s needs etc.etc. No more excuses/reasons for not getting it done! Just a thought…
Bill
OK…I admit I’m a bit behind on my blog-reading. As discussed this past Friday, my idea for a motto is “Get With the Program!”
Here’s another idea for a motto (based loosely on the old Nike motto) “Do the Word” James 1:22. If you like this one, you could use it with or without the Scripture reference tag, but I think that with the tag would point people out to a rather key verse on actively DOING rather than merely LISTENING to the Word.
I was thinking something like:
More than Words
Voiceless Love
Love on Mute
Silent Love
Speechless Love
Silent Actions
Call to Commotion
Just a few…